Dissolution of Pak assemblies, interim set up soon

Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 13:04 [IST]

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Islamabad, Oct 10: As the Pakistan national assembly will complete its five-year term on November 15, President Pervez Musharraf has begun consulting his political aides modalities for installation of an interim set up for holding general elections in the country.

''Gen Musharraf discussed the interim set-up and dissolution of assemblies with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his top political aides last evening,'' The Nation said.

The high-level consultations held at the President's camp office Rawalpindi were also attended by ruling Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, chief minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the officials privy to the meeting informed.

They said the President discussed at length with his aides the modalities of the interim set up and the likely candidates for the post of caretaker Prime Minister.

The other issue that was deliberated upon was the timing for the dissolution of assemblies, said an official. The President also discussed with his top political aides the petitions against his candidature in the Supreme Court, he added.

The meeting also took up for discussion the President's address to the nation after the Supreme Court decision on his candidature, the official said.

However, he said the discussions focused on the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which seeks to withdraw cases of corruption against former premier Benazir Bhutto and other Pakistan Peoples Party leaders, the reaction of public in this regard and especially the unexpected outrage as well as challenging of the ordinance in the Supreme Court.

The meeting decided that whatever be the apex court verdict on vital issue, it would be acceptable to the government, the official added.

He also said the participants of meeting observed that the ordinance had not only harmed the political career of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto but also brought bad name to the government.

According to official, the other issues that figured up for discussions during the high level meeting included the return of Ms Bhutto to Pakistan as well as that of PML-N leader, Mian Nawaz Sharif and its impact on national politics.